But when Royals’ assistant boss returns to Vicarage Road, he will be doing everything he can do to deny the Hornets the points they need to ease their relegation fears.

Gibbs said: “I was desperately hoping that Watford would beat QPR on Tuesday night, but come tomorrow there’s only one team that I want to win, and that’s Reading.

“I have a great relationship with the Watford fans and I’m proud to hold the record as their longest serving player and player with the most appearances. Watford’s is still the first result I look for. But during those 90 minutes tomorrow, it’ll be business as usual for me.”

Gibbs is a firm fans’ favourite among the Hornets faithful, but winger Jobi McAnuff is unlikey to receive a warm reception from the home fans.

He and striker Grzegorz Rasiak switched allegiances after Brendan Rodgers, the former Watford and Reading boss, moved back to Berkshire in the summer.

Watford supporters still hold a grudge against Royals for their public pursuit of Tommy Smith in the close season. The striker eventually turned his back on both clubs and joined Portsmouth.

Gibbs, who also coached at Watford for several years, has sympathy for their fans in the wake of the club’s current plight.

He added: “It’s a sad situation. They have been mismanaged in the past and that has played a part in where they are today.

“The legacy from their time in the Premier League has gone and it’s difficult for them, but it’s a great community club, much like Reading in so many ways.

“Other people are left to pick up the pieces and it’s hard watching them like this. But tomorrow we will be going there to win.”